My son is getting glasses for the first time. He’s fine about it but I’m an emotional wreck

Fortunately, he doesn’t have the childhood insecurities that led to me picking glasses that I hoped would make me invisible, writes Stuart Heritage – he’s happy to look like Prue Leith

Are you breathing properly? How I found out I wasn’t

You might think of breathing as automatic, but dysfunctional breathing can arise even if you’re healthy

Why aren’t Republicans thrilled by the fall in teen pregnancies?

In the US, the birth rate for 15- to 19-year-olds dropped 7% last year. But what seems like good news for society has been lamented by some leading Maga figures, writes Arwa Mahdawi

A chaperone, a balance beam and an assault course: my cabin bag bootcamp

Our tester hauled, hurdled and army-crawled his way to crowning the best carry-on luggage. Plus, Michelle Ogundehin’s shopping secrets and meal kits, tested

Is it true that … having a diverse microbiome stops you from getting sick?

Having diverse microbes in the gut has been promoted as a way to boost immunity, but studies suggest it’s more complicated than that

Socialising, work, exercise: what makes a good day and is there a ‘formula’ for making it better?

Researchers have figured out which activities, and in what volume, are linked to people reporting having a good day. We challenge three writers to follow the blueprint for improving their daily grind

After her remission from cancer, Christine felt her friends abandoned her when she needed them most

While her friends expected a seamless return to pre-illness life, Christine feared a relapse, feeling a sense of limbo between her old and new self

The best barefoot shoes in the UK – tried and tested for comfort and support

They’re the divisive footwear that many swear by, but which barefoot shoes are comfy enough for running and hiking? Our writer spent three months finding out

The best water flossers in the UK, tested for that dentist-clean feeling

Floss without the faff with our expert-tested water flossers, from travel-size models to countertop jets

Why does alcohol make us both happy and miserable – and what else does it do to our minds and bodies?

It sends us to sleep and wakes us in the night, excites us and depresses us, gives us confidence one moment, anxiety the next. How does this messy drug wield so much power?